[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 8, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 54627]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-22325]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-9197-7]
Best Management Practices for Unused Pharmaceuticals at Health
Care Facilities
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: EPA is requesting public comments on a draft guidance document
entitled, Best Management Practices for Unused Pharmaceuticals at
Health Care Facilities. The guidance is targeted at hospitals, medical
clinics, doctors' offices, long-term care facilities and veterinary
facilities. EPA expects that this document will help reduce the amount
of pharmaceuticals that are discharged to water bodies.
DATES: EPA requests comments on or before November 8, 2010. Comments
received after this date may not be incorporated into the final
guidance document.
ADDRESSES: EPA prefers receiving comments by e-mail. Please send e-mail
comments to unusedpharms@epa.gov and include your name and
organizational affiliation, if any. You may also send comments by
postal mail to Meghan Hessenauer, Engineering and Analysis Division
(4303T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Meghan Hessenauer, Engineering and
Analysis Division, telephone: 202-566-1040; e-mail:
hessenauer.meghan@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pharmaceuticals are being discovered in our
Nation's waters at very low concentrations. EPA has been studying
unused pharmaceutical disposal practices at health care facilities,
prompted by the concern that large amounts of pharmaceuticals are being
flushed or disposed of down the drain, ultimately ending up in rivers,
streams and coastal waters.
The Agency has drafted a guidance document for health care
facilities, which describes:
Techniques for reducing or avoiding pharmaceutical waste;
Practices for identifying and managing types of unused
pharmaceuticals; and
Applicable disposal regulations.
The guidance is targeted at hospitals, medical clinics, doctors'
offices, long-term care facilities and veterinary facilities. EPA
expects that this document will help reduce the amount of
pharmaceuticals that are discharged to water bodies.
The document is available on EPA's Web site at http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/guide/unusedpharms_index.cfm.
EPA has visited many facilities and consulted with organizations in
the health care industry, as well as federal, state and local
government agencies. EPA continues to solicit recommendations from a
wide range of stakeholders and welcomes comments on the draft document.
We plan to publish a final version of the document in late 2010.
Dated: September 1, 2010.
Ephraim S. King,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 2010-22325 Filed 9-7-10; 8:45 am]
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